Air pressure pumping mechanism



Dec. 3, 1940. w. B. HAVENS 2,223,417

AIR PRESSURE PUMPING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 19:59 -2 Sheet-Sheet 1 WM [7 iv W ATTORNEY.

w, a HAVENS AIR PRESSURE PUMPING MECHANIQM '3 Sheeis-Sheet 2 Filed Nov 10. L1959 j/u ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 3, 1940 AIR PRESSURE PUMPING MECHANISM Walter B. Havens, Osawatomie, Kans., assignor of one-half to Edwin V. Bedford, Osawatomie,

Kans.

Application November 10, 1939, Serial No. 303,832

5 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in air pressure pumping mechanisms. It relates particularly to the type of pumping mechanisms in which a cylinder having a liquid inlet and a 5 liquid outlet is located in a. well containing a liquid, as water or oil, and in which compressed air is employed to force the liquid, that enters the cylinder by gravity, out of the cylinder to a desired place of delivery.

10 One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a novel arrangement of valves, which are actuated by a float in the cylinder, by which air under pressure is admitted to the cylinder at the time the exhaust of air therefrom is cut ofl,and by which the intake of compressed air is cut'oif when the air is being exhausted.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means by which one valve which controls' the exhaust of air from the cylinder 20 opens and closes another valve which controls thefiintake to the cylinder of compressed air simultaneously with the closing and opening of the exhaust valve. i

A further object is the provision of novel means for releasably holding the exhaust valve in its closed position until it is forced to the open position by a valve operating mechanism. I

Another object of my invention is the provision of a pumping mechanism of novelstructure which relatively few parts, which is not likely to get out of order, and which is efiicient in its operation; (The novel features of my invention are here'- 35 inafter fully described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, l i

Fig. 1 isa vertical sectional view of my improved pumping mechanism, showing the float in its most elevated position, the air exhaust valve closed, and the compressed air intake valve open. l i "Fig; 2 is a view of the pumping mechanism, 45 partly broken away, partly invertical section and partly in side elevation, showing the float in its lowermost position, the air exhaust valve open and the air intake valve closed.

Fig. 3 is a. view similar to Fig. 2, with more parts broken away, showing the float in a raised position lower than that shown in Fig. 1, the air exhaust valve open and the air intake valve closed. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1. 55 Fig. 5 is a sectionon the line 55 of Fig. 1.

is simplegstrong, durable, compact and with Fig. 6 is a section onthe line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 'l| of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9'is a top view of what is shown in Fig." 1.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged horizontal fragmental sectional view of a portion of the air exhaust valve, shown in its closed position, and a portion of the exhaust'valve casing, the means for releas'ably holding said exhaust valve being shown in plan holding the exhaust valve closed; 10

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in thedifferent views.

The pumpingmechanism is provided with a pumping cylinder comprising a vertical pipe I internally threaded at its upper and lower ends.

f Fitted in and closing the lower end 'of the pipe I is a closure comprising a screw plug 2 havinga central liquid inlet 3 in the upper end of which is fitted a downwardly closing ball valve 4. The p1ug2 has on its inner side a circular tubular projection 5 encircling the inlet 3 and externally threaded. An internally threaded guard'cap 6 is fitted on the threaded periphery of the tubular projection S'andhas lateral passages-I for liquid above the projection 5. The

top of the cap 6 is spaced from the valve 4 a distance such as to permit the valve 4 to open without getting out-of the tubular projection 5.

The externally threaded body 8 of a head is 9 fitted in the threaded upper end' of the pipe I and closing said upper end. The space between the head 8 and screw plug 2 forms a float chamber 9 in the pipe I.

For discharging the liquid which "enters the float chamber 9- through the inlet 3, there is provided a vertical-liquid discharge pipe l0 having an externally threaded upper end fittedin a central vertical threaded hole I I in the head body I. In the upper end of the hole H is fitted thelower threaded end of another vertical dis- 40 charge'pipe l2, which extends through a larger central vertical hole I3 in the upper end of the head body 8. Said larger hole 13 is adapted to l receive compressed air through an air conducting pipe, I4, the lower end of which is threaded and fittedin thethreaded upper end of the hole by a downwardly closing ball valve l1 disposed in the valve casing l5 and adapted to rest on a valve seat IS in the upper end of the inlet IS.

The pumping cylinder is disposed in an oil well or a well containing water, and the liquid enters the float chamber 9 by gravity through the inlet 3. When the float chamber is filled to a predetermined height with the liquid, the latter is forced by compressed air, as will be hereinafter described, throughthe inlet 16, past the ball valve I1, into and through the pipe l9, hole II, and pipe I2 to where the liquid is to be discharged.

For discharging exhaust air from the float chamber 9, as the liquid enters the chamber, the following described means is employed.

The lower end of the head body 8 is provided with a central vertical cylindrical h'ole l9 in the upper end of which is fitted a cylindrical inverted cup shaped member 20, against thelower end of which bears a circular plate 2| having a central hole 22. The member 29 and plate 2| for-in the casing-of an air exhaust valve chamber 23. The top of-the member 20 has two holes 24 which respectively communicate with two air exhaust ducts 25 that communicate with the outer air. The side wan of the member 20 is provided with two holes 26 respectivelycommunicatii'i'g with two inlet air ducts 21 which com municate with the float chamber 9, and extendthrough the sidewall of the body 8, where the latter is spaced from the pipe I, see Figs. 2 and 3. r v w The ducts 21, holes 26, valve chamber 23, holes 24 and ducts 25 form an air exhaust passage, which, when open, conveys exhaust air from the float chamber 9 to the outer air. For holding the member 29 from revolving in the body 9, "a pin 28 in the top or the member 20 is fittedin a hole in the body 'a, see Fig. 1;

For closing the exhaust passage when comressed air is admitted into the heat chamber 9, an air exhaustvalve 29 :is reciprocativel'y fitted in the exhaustchamber 23 to move .from its open position, shown'in'Fi'gs. 2 {and to a position in which it will close the lateral holes '26 in "the 'iriember 20/ Said exhaust valve 2 9 has a vertical tubular stem comprising an upper tube 39 which encircles "wardly into the neat chamber s in which it has its threaded lower end fitted on the u per interna ly threaded End 'Of, lower tube 3|, disposed vertically the float chamber '9 and which encircles the discharge pipe f9, Fig. l. I

Rigidly fastened on the lower end of the lower valve stem tube 3! is a collar 32 which forms an abutment against :which is adapted to strike a float s3 'which encircle's the tube 3i; and is adapted to be raised the liquid in the." iiOaIt chamber 9 until it strikes an abutment 34, comprising a collar fastened by'a set screw 35 'o nthe upper tube just above the upper end of the lower tube'3l. A V

Theliquid entering the float chamber 9 through the inlet 3 raises thefloat 33. Whenthejupper end of the float '33 engages th'eabutment collar 34 it will lift the .valve stem 3ll-.-3!. and the valve 29 until said valve strikes the upper end of the exhaust chamber 23 at. which time the valve 29 will close the holes .26 and the ducts 21, thus shutting ofl the exhaust of air from the float chamber 9. To hold the valve 29 closed while compressed air is being discharged into the float chamber '9, to discharge the liquid therefrom, the following described yielding holding mechanisin'is provided.

Referring to Figs. 1 and. 10, the exhaust valve 29 has extending inwardly from its periphery a radial hole 36 in which is mounted a coil spring 39, one end of which bears against the valve 29, and the other end of which bears against a ball 31, which, when the valve 29 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the closed position, the ball will enter an annular groove 38 in the head body 8, and will yieldingly hold the exhaust valve 29 closed until the float 33 lowers and strikes the abutment 32 and forces the valve 29 downwardly to its open position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

For admitting compressed air into the float chamber 9, to expel the liquid therefrom, and for controlling such admission, the following mechanism is provided.

The body 8 under the plate 2| is fitted a cup shaped member 39, the upper edge of which bears against the plate 2|, and which is supported by a circular collar 49, fastened by bolts 4| to the lower end of the .body 8. The member 39 and the plate 2! forms anai'r intake valve chamber 42. Thebottom of the cup shaped member 39 has a central hole 43 which registers with the hole in the collar 49, thus affording communication between the chamber 42' and the float chainber 9. 1

The wall of the member 38 has throughit two holes 44 which respectively". register with the lower ends of two air ducts 45 in the body 8, the upper ends of "said ducts 45 'communicating'with the'hole l3. The air supply'pipel'l discharges compressed air to the hole l3 in the. upper end of the body 8. f The said hole l3,"the ducts 45, th'evholes '44, the air intake valve" chamber 42, the hole 43 and the hole through the collar 49, form a passage for admitting compressed-air to the float chamber.

Reciprocative in the air intake chamber 42 is an intake valve 43, which is movable from the raised open position, shown in Fig. 1, tothe lower positiomshown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which lower position it closes the air inletholes 44, and thus shuts off the supply of compressed air'to' the float chamber-9, I

' The air intake valve 46 hasa tubular stem 41 encircling the tubular stem member 39, and which extends through the hole 22 in the partition plate 2!, into the valve-chamber 23. The

stem 41 also extends downwardly'through the opening 43, and the plate 49 into the iioat chamher. In the float chamber 9 it has fastened to it a collar 48, by means of a set screw 49, which is adapted to be engaged by the abutment collar 34 and lifted, thus opening 'tl'ie'va'lve "46, when the float 33 lifts the abutment collar 34, and closes the exhaust valve 29.

In operation, the parts being in the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when liquid enters the float chamber 9 through'theinlet 3, the liquid will raise the float 33' from the abutment collar 32. 'While' the float is rising the exhaust valve 29 will remain open so that the air in the float chamber 9f above the liquid therein, will be exit the exhaust valve 29' through its stem 39--3|, 570

closing the exhaust valve,'.thus shutting off discharge of air from the float chamber 9. v

When the abutment collar 34 is thus lifted by the float 9, it will engage and lift the stem 41 and the intake valve46, as shown in Fig.1. ,The compressed air will then enter the float chamber 9 through the pipe l4, hole I 3, ducts 25, holes 44, intake valve chamber 42, holes 43 and hole in the collar lll. l

The exhaust valve 29will be held closed by the spring actuated ball 31 while the compressed air is forcing the liquid inthelfloat chamber 9, through the valve casing l8, pipe l0, hole II and pipe I2. s

As the liquid in 'the float chamber 9 is being discharged by the air pressure, the float 33 will lower and will contact with the abutment 32, forcing the latterdownwardly, and thus moving the exhaust valve 29 downwardly to the open position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When the valve 46 was opened by the rising of the float, its stem 41 entered the exhaust valve chamber 23, as shown in Fig. l. The exhaust valve 29 in moving downwardly to the open position, will engage the upper 'end of the valve stem lland will push the latter and the valve 46 to the closed position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A complete cycle of operation has now been performed, and the exhaust valve 29 being open, and the air intake valve 46 closed, liquid will again begin to enter the float chamber 9, starting anothercycle of operation, which will be performed in the manner hereinbeforedescribed.

Many modifications; of my invention, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a compressed air pumping mechanism, the combination with a cylinder having a closed lower end, a valved liquid inlet, a head closing its upper end, and a float chamber between its ends, liquid discharge means communicating with said float chamber, said head having a passage for compressed air communicating with a supply source and discharging into said float chamber,

said passage including an air intake valve chamber, said head having a passage for exhaust air communicating with the outer air and with said float chamber, said exhaust passage including an air exhaust valve chamber above said intake chamber, a piston exhaust valve vertically reciprocative in said exhaust chamber to and from an upper position in which it will close said air exhaust passage, and having a stem extending through said air intake chamber into said float chamber and in said float chamber having two spaced apart abutments one above the other, a piston valve vertically reciprocative in said air intake chamber to and from a lower position in which it will close said compressed air intake passage and having a tubular stem encircling said exhaust valve stem and extending into said exhaust chamber and adapted to be engaged and moved downward to the closed position by said exhaust valve and extending into said float chamber in the path of the upper of said abutments and adapted to be lifted thereby to the open position, and a float in said float chamber, between said abutments which are in the path of said float, the float in rising engaging and lifting i float'chamb'er, said headhaving a passage for compressed air communicating with .a supply sourceand discharging into said float chamber, saidpassage including an air intake valve chamber, said head having a passage for exhaustair communicating with the outer air and with said,

float chamber,said exhaust passage including an air I exhaust'valve chamber above said intake chamber, a piston exhaustlvalve vertically recipro'cative in said exhaust chamber to and from an upper position in which it will close said air exhaust passage, and having a stem extending through said air intake chamber into said float chamber and in said float chamber having two spaced apart abutments one above the other, a

tween said abutments which are in the path ofsaid float, the float inrisin'g engaging and lifting said upper abutment until said exhaust valve is closed, and in lowering engaging said lower abutment and forcing it downwardly until said exhaust valve moves to its open position and closes said air intake valve, and yielding means for holding said exhaust valve closed.

3. In a compressed air pumping mechanism, the combination with a cylinder having a closed lower end, a valved liquid inlet, a head closing its upper end, and a float chamber between its ends, said head having a passage for compressed air communicating with a source of supply and discharging into said float chamber, said passage including an air intake valve chamber, said head having a passage for exhaust air communicating with the outer air and with said float chamber, said exhaust passage including an air exhaust valve chamber above said air intake chamber, a liquid discharge pipe extending vertically through said valve chambers and into said float chamber and having in said float chamber a valved liquid inlet, a piston exhaust valve vertically reciprocative in said exhaust chamber to and from an upper position in which it will close said exhaust passage, and having a tubular stem encircling said discharge pipe and extending through said intake chamber into said float chamber and in said float chamber having two spaced apart abutments one above the other, a piston valve vertically reciprocative in said air intake valve chamber to and from a lower position in which it will close said air intake passage and having a tubular stem encircling said exhaust valve stem and extending into said exhaust chamber and adapted to be engaged and moved downward to the closed position by said exhaust valve and extending into said float chamber in the path of the upper of said abutments and adapted to be lifted thereby to the open position, and a float in said float chamber between said abutments which are in the path of said float, said float in rising engaging and lifting said upper abutment until said exhaust valve closes, and in lowering engaging and moving said lower abutment downwardly until said exhaust valve moves to its open position and closes said air intake valve.

4. In a compressed air pumping mechanism,

the combination with a closed cylinder having a float chamber, avalved liquid inlet and a head, liquid discharge means communicating with said float chamber, said head having a passage for compressed air discharging into said float chamber and including an air intake valve chamber, said head having a passage for discharging exhaust air communicating with the outer air and with said float chamber and including an exhaust air valve chamber, a pistonv valve reciprocative in said exhaust valve chamber to and from a position closing said exhaust passage and having a stem extending through said air intake chamber into said float chamber, a piston valve reciprocative in said air intake chamber to and from a position in which it will close said compressed air passage and having a tubular stem encircling said stem of said exhaust valveand extending into said exhaust chamber in the path of said exhaust valve and movable by the latter to the closed position when said exhaust valve moves to the open position, a float in said float chamber, means actuated by' said float for moving said exhaust valve to the closed position when said float rises to a predetermined point, means for moving said exhaust valve to the open position when said float lowers to a predetermined point, and means actuated by said exhaust valve when it moves to the closed position for moving said air intake valve to the open position.

5. In a compressed pumping mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 4 combined with means, independent of said float, 'for releasably holding said exhaust valveclosed-and operable to release said exhaust valve when said float lowers to a predetermined position.

I WALTER YB. HAVENS. 

